Warning for millions of households to take energy meter reading now to avoid higher bills this winter
All recommendations within this article are informed by expert editorial opinion. If you click on a link in this story we may earn affiliate revenue.
MILLIONS of households should take gas and electricity meter readings before bills rise in October.
The average household will see their bills climb from October 1 and taking a reading before then could see you charged less.
Prime Minister Liz Truss has frozen energy bills for two years as part of a package of cost of living support.
But the new Energy Price Guarantee means the average household's yearly energy bill will rise to £2,500 from £1,971 currently.
However, that doesn't mean that's the maximum you'll pay - you could pay more or less depending on how much energy you use.
That's because the guarantee only limits the amount firms can charge customers for each unit of energy.
Read more in Money
Uswitch even issued a warning after its research found nearly two in five households think the Energy Price Guarantee completely stops bills from going over £2,500.
The new cap only affects those on standard variable tariffs, but that still works out as 22 million households.
That's why it's crucial you take a gas and electricity meter reading around September 30 as it will reduce the risk of you being overcharged when the new cap comes into force.
You don't have to take your meter reading on September 30, but you should aim to do it around this date to make sure you're billed accurately.
Most read in Money
The last time the price cap went up, a range of energy suppliers websites' crashed due to the sheer number of people on them trying to submit readings at the same time.
If you take regular readings your supplier can work out how much they should bill you.
If you don't submit readings to your supplier, they'll estimate your usage and you could end up being charged more than you should have been.
According to , how often you should submit readings will depend on how often you're billed.
If it's every month, you should aim to submit a reading two days before your payment date every four or so weeks.
If you are billed quarterly, you'll only need to take meter readings every three months.
If you're on a smart meter, you don't need to take any readings as they will be taken automatically.
It comes after consumer champion Martin Lewis urged millions to get their readings done.
How do you take a meter reading?
In most cases you'll be able to call your supplier to give them the readings, and in others you might be able to submit them online or on an app.
Electricity meters
If you have a digital electricity or gas meter, you see a row of six numbers on the display dashboard - five in black and one in red.
You will need to note down the five numbers in black and ignore the red number.
If you are on an Economy 7 or 10 tariff, which means you get cheaper electricity throughout the night, you may see two rows of numbers.
You should take both down.
If you have a traditional dial meter, you will have to read the first five dials from left to right and ignore any red ones.
If the pointer is between two numbers, you will need to write down the lower number. If it's between nine and zero, write down nine.
If the pointer is directly over a number, write down that number and underline it.
says that if you’ve underlined a number, check the next dial to the right. If the pointer on that dial is between 9 and 0, reduce the number you’ve underlined by 1. For example, if you originally wrote down 5, change it to 4.
Gas meters
If you have a digital metric meter showing five numbers then a decimal place, you only need to write down the first five number from left to right.
If you have a digital imperial meter your meter will read four black numbers and two red numbers - note down the four black numbers only.
If you have a dial gas meter follow the same steps for those with a dial electricity meter but ignore underlining any figures.
What other energy bill help can I get?
From October 1, millions of households will start receiving a £400 energy rebate.
The payment will be made to your energy supplier who will then deduct it from your bill.
Households will receive a £66 discount in October and November, and a £67 one every month from December to March.
Millions of pensioners who usually get the Winter Fuel Allowance will receive £300 on top from November.
Some households are set to get a £150 Warm Home Discount between December and March 2023 as well.
You might also be able to get an energy grant from your supplier.
British Gas is offering one, as well as , Octopus Energy, and
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Read More on The Sun
You can also get free debt advice from:
- - 0800 138 7777
- - 0808 800 9060
- - 0800 138 1111
- - 0808 808 4000